Comparative study of horses in tie stalls, individual housing in boxes and group housing

Abstract

The aim of this study was a comparison of the behaviour and stress burden of horses in a tie stalls, stabling in individual boxes and keeping horses in small groups in a group box, each with daily paddock movement (approx. 7 h). The study was carried out with eight healthy warmblood horses at the age of 14.4±2.1 years. The behaviour of each horse was analysed with the help of video recordings and ALT pedometers. The assessment criteria were resting behaviour, movement activity and concentration of cortisol metabolites in faeces. The horses of group boxes had the longest total lying times (median: 88.3 min/horse and night). Horses of individual boxes (40.9 min/horse and night) showed a slightly lower lying time compared to horses in the tie stall (45.4 min/horse and night). In tie stalls some horses never lied down throughout the entire observation period. The percentage of resting time (standing and lying) on the overall behaviour was similar in all housing forms (tie stall: 63.0%, individual box: 62.9%, group housing: 65.8%). Differently, however, was the proportion of lying time on the total resting behaviour (tie stall: 14.1%; individual box: 16.5%; group housing 33.8%). The temporary housing in the tie stall system also led to a restriction of movement and obstruction of species-specific rolling-behaviour, but allowed social contact with neighbouring horses. The concentration of cortisol metabolites of the experimental animals was significantly higher during housing in tie stalls than in groups while there was no significant difference between individual boxes and group housing (tie stall: 22.9 ng/g faeces; individual box: 1 7.7 ng/g faeces; group housing: 16.5 ng/g faeces). Thus, the stress load of tied animals was the highest. The horses showed the longest lay down time, the highest movement activity and the lowest stress load during group housing. With regard to animal welfare this type of housing is to be evaluated positively. Due to individual housing conditions and needs of horses, however, no general recommendation can be made.